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The Department of Sociology’s

SENIOR THESIS HANDBOOK

Academic Year 2014-2015

Developed by Ann Marie R. Power,

Director of Undergraduate Studies

UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME

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© 2009 Revised December 2012; Published February 14, 2013; Revised August 20, 2014 Author’s note: This is a substantial revision of the 2009 handbook which was developed by the author in consultation with the AY 2009-2010 Undergraduate Studies Committee (Kevin Christiano, Eugene Halton, Sean Kelly, & Andrew Weigert) and Department Chair (Rory McVeigh). Some of the information on pages 5 & 6 of this booklet originally appeared in the Sociology Department’s “Requirements For Honors Tutorial.”

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SENIOR THESIS HANDBOOK

DEPARTMENT OF SOCIOLOGY

ACADEMIC YEAR 2014-2015

THE SENIOR THESIS PROCESS

A senior thesis is the crowning point of students’ undergraduate years of study. The

process of producing a senior thesis requires two semesters, during which time students

carry out an independent research project on a topic of their choice. Thus, every senior

thesis is uniquely each student’s own.

The benefits of doing a senior thesis are many. The process enables students to pull

together, into a unified whole, the sociological knowledge and methodological skills they

have acquired over their time in the major. By completing a thesis, students show that

they are able to think critically and work independently. It also marks students as creative

and persevering.

All Sociology students are encouraged to develop a senior thesis project. While this is

voluntary for most students, those in the department’s honors track must do so in

order to graduate with the honors distinction.

The following are some additional benefits to engaging in a senior thesis project:

Gain more opportunities for exchanging ideas with faculty, graduate students, and

peers.

Strengthen oral and written presentation skills.

Learn about submitting manuscripts for publication.

Present research findings to a critical audience.

Lay the groundwork for graduate studies and other equally rigorous pursuits.

Timing of the Thesis

A senior thesis in the College of Arts and Letters requires two semesters of focused

research and writing. Most undergraduate students undertake a senior thesis project

during their senior year; but upon recommendation or request, students may initiate the

process during their junior year. Students should see the Director of Undergraduate

Studies about the timing of their senior thesis.

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Courses To Take

Typically, students carry out their senior thesis work through special research-based

courses, numbered 48xxx. Students should note that all research-based courses,

numbered 48xxx, count in the category of a 40000-level requirement in the Registrar’s

Graduation Progress System.

Under the advisement of the Director of Undergraduate Studies (DUS), students may

begin working on their senior thesis in SOC 48009, Senior Thesis Capstone Project, or

they may launch their thesis research within the department’s more structured course,

SOC 48002, “Doing Sociology: Senior Research Practicum.” A third way to get going on

the senior thesis is through the course required of students in the Glynn Family Honors

Program, ALHN 48980, “Senior Honors Thesis,” which Glynn honors students take in

the Fall semester. A fourth way in which students can launch their thesis is through a

43xxx senior seminar, under the instructor’s and the DUS’s advisement.

All students complete their senior thesis in the spring semester by enrolling in SOC

48009. This course is a repeatable course, so those students who began their thesis in

SOC 48009 may take it again in the Spring. (All Sociology honors track students are

required to take SOC 48009, Senior Thesis Capstone Project, at least once in their

senior year, for 3 credits in order to complete the honors requirements.) Students who

need to build up their methodological skills to carry out their thesis work are advised to

launch their senior thesis via SOC 48002 in the fall semester and then complete their

work via SOC 48009 in the spring.

During the semesters that students are enrolled in SOC 48009, they are also required to

be enrolled in SOC 41800, Senior Thesis Workshop. This course provides the students

who are working independently on their projects with timely information and consistent

support throughout the year. The workshop also offers a forum for sharing works-in-

progress.

Deciding on a Methodological Approach

Senior thesis research projects may fall within any of the genres of sociological

research: analytical, case study, historical, interpretive, phenomenological, quantitative,

theoretical, etc., depending on each student’s objectives. Students may collect the data for

their analyses themselves or extract data from an existing data set.

To get started on their thesis projects, students are encouraged to develop a set of

research questions within an area of research that strongly interests them. Students’

research questions should be specific and definable, and ones that can be fruitfully

studied during the period of time in which the research is to be conducted, i.e., within two

academic semesters. Research questions may arise from past sociological interests and

concerns, personal experiences, a burning personal issue, current affairs, or future plans.

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Students should be aware of the wide array of methodologies and consider which ones

are best suited to their questions and data. It is best, therefore, if students work on

developing questions and formulating ideas about the relationships among their variables

of interest before trying to identify an appropriate methodology. Students are expected

to discuss their research questions and possible methodological approaches with

their thesis directors.

Completing a senior thesis is, by definition, primarily the responsibility of the individual

student, and students are expected to put forth full and conscientious efforts throughout

this year-long process. At the same time, thesis directors and the DUS can be counted

upon to provide an adequate framework of support for reasonably conceived projects.

So that appropriate resources can be mobilized in time for the student, it is important for

students to begin thinking about their projects as early as possible.

Choosing a Senior Thesis Director

The Director of Undergraduate Studies assists students in finding faculty mentors for

their senior thesis research projects. The choice of thesis director hinges on two main

considerations: students’ research interests and a faculty member’s availability.

Students may approach faculty members themselves or discuss their options first with the

DUS. If a student does not know the faculty member who is most appropriate to his/her

chosen topic, the DUS will contact that faculty member to ascertain his/her availability. If

the student already knows the faculty member and has already established a mentor

relationship with the faculty member, she may approach the faculty member herself.

Students are discouraged from asking for a director outside the Sociology department,

unless it is a faculty member in an affiliated department, like, for example, the Institute

for Latino Studies.

In the beginning, students may tend toward research projects that extend beyond their

present level of expertise in the field. If your director does not know you well, discuss

your skills and background with your director prior to beginning your project, so that

your director may guide you in limiting your topic to a manageable level. If you feel

weak in certain areas (e.g., statistical analysis), feel comfortable about discussing this

with your director and/or the DUS. If known ahead of time, the faculty member can then

plan to assist you and advise you in those areas.

The senior thesis project entails an application (see Appendix A), and each faculty

director must sign the application form along with the student before the DUS grants

department approval to the student to add the senior thesis course (SOC 48009) to their

schedule. Subsequent to the application process, each director receives the senior thesis

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guidelines as well as periodic communiqués from the DUS with regards to the senior

thesis process.

Relatively few undergraduates are capable of doing a senior thesis without considerable

direction from a faculty member, and students’ experiences in carrying out their thesis

research will be enriched by working with a mature scholar. Directors will have

differences in style and strategy in terms of guidance, and the scope of that guidance will

depend on a student’s individual needs. While direction must be available, the project

must not become the director's project, and staying on track must be primarily the

student’s responsibility.

In sum, students may expect their directors’ help in the following areas:

1. Each faculty director will encourage the student to attempt an inquiry of appropriate

rigor within the bounds of the student's potential, the time available, and the

University's and student's access to resources.

2. Each faculty director will advise the student toward the successful completion of the

project, meeting the general specifications as interpreted by the department, which

suggests counseling as frequently as appropriate for each student on content,

method, and form.

3. Each faculty director will assist with the editing of the report for the typical errors of

logic, style, and mechanics that may occur. Evaluation and grading will be based

upon the total report.

Evaluating the Senior Thesis

Students will receive a standard letter grade for their thesis work, in each semester.

Individual faculty directors assign the grade for their thesis mentee’s work. In order for

their senior thesis to receive the honors distinction, students must earn a grade of B

or higher on their work.

Because most students are concerned about the evaluation process, they should discuss

with their directors at the outset of each semester what their expectations are for the

student’s performance in the thesis process. In general, in evaluating the project, each

faculty director will consider the following four elements and the manner in which these

are combined in the production of the senior thesis:

Form. Form is an essential element of clear expression. The project should

reflect explicit attention to the requirements of form for writing in sociology. Students should review appropriate sociological journals (e.g., American Sociological

Review, Journal of Health and Social Behavior, Social Psychology Quarterly,

Sociological Theory, Sociology of Education, etc.) for models of how components of the

research process tie together into a clear, integrated whole, and for directions on how to

present tables, headings, and referencing. In addition, students are expected to follow the

manuscript style guidelines as stipulated in the American Sociological Association’s

Style Guide, Fourth Edition.

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Content. Each student’s set of research questions should reflect a considered and

stated judgment as to the significance and manageability of the topic. The completed

project should represent a serious and systematic attempt to pursue your questions

effectively, making good use of available resources. The theory (or theories) explaining

the phenomenon to be studied should be comprehensively and systematically presented

along with an assessment of it/them. The literature review should consist of relevant

studies on the pertinent issues under investigation. The theory and literature should be

clearly linked to the hypotheses or the theses or themes generated.

Method. The choices made in selecting a methodology should be clearly

explained. Concepts should be operationalized or otherwise defined, and the technique to

be followed outlined in detail. Sampling design should be appropriate and any statistical

technique used should be explained and justified. The strengths and weaknesses in

methodology should be anticipated and explicated.

Process. The director will take into account the manner in which the project was

completed. Did the student work independently, show up for appointments, meet

deadlines, etc.? Has the student complied with the expectations related to the senior thesis

project (e.g., submitted the thesis to a journal, presented the project to a critical audience,

etc.)?

THE INSTITUTIONAL REVIEW BOARD APPROVAL PROCESS

Research involving human subjects requires approval from the university’s Institutional

Review Board, which is set up to protect the well-being of human subjects as required by

Federal law and institutional mandates:

“The Institutional Review Board’s (IRB) major role is to safeguard the rights and

welfare of all human subjects who participate in research. In compliance with

Federal law and institutional policy, all research projects involving human subjects

or human material must be reviewed and approved by the IRB.”

Thus, all student researchers who will be collecting their own data must seek

approval from the IRB if it involves human subjects.

As part of the first step in seeking IRB approval, students are required to take a tutorial to

become familiar with the IRB process. To find out more about this in detail, students

should visit the Center for Undergraduate Scholarly Engagement’s pages on “Human

Subjects Research” at http://undergradresearch.nd.edu/policies/IRB/

The following summary is included in this guidebook to help students proceed through

the IRB process in a timely way.

IRB Submission Process Requirements

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1) IRB Education and Training

Researcher must complete Human Subjects Protection Certification prior to

protocol submission on CITI (Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative)

website. See http://or.nd.edu/research-compliance/education-and-training/

for more information.

2) IRB Submission Form (Protocol)

Researcher must submit complete research proposal along with methodologies,

survey instrument, consent forms, and recruitment materials.

See http://or.nd.edu/?s=irb+submission+protocol

Researcher must also have approval from their faculty advisor. And the student’s

Faculty advisor must send a brief note stating his/her approval of the research

project.

3) Proposals must be submitted at least 10 working days before the IRB meets. *

This usually pertains to researchers who have to undergo a “full IRB review.”

http://or.nd.edu/research-compliance/human-subjects-research/irb-procedures-

manual-guidelines/the-substance-of-irb-review/ contains an explanation of the

substance of reviews.

Meeting dates: The Institutional Review Board meets once a month. During AY

2014-15, they will meet http://or.nd.edu/research-compliance/human-subjects-

research/institutional-review-board-irb/#irbmeet

Criteria for IRB Approval

A study should meet the following criteria in order to gain approval from the IRB:

1. The risks to subjects are minimized as much as possible.

2. The risks to subjects are reasonable in relation to anticipated benefits.

3. The informed consent is adequate.

4. Where appropriate, the research plan makes provisions for the safety of the

subjects during the data collection process.

5. Where appropriate, there are adequate provisions to protect the privacy of subjects

and maintain confidentiality of data.

6. Appropriate safeguards are included within the study to protect the rights and

welfare of the vulnerable subjects.

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MANUSCRIPT STYLE GUIDELINES

Students must adhere strictly to the American Sociological Associations (ASA)

manuscript style guidelines, as delineated in ASA’s Style Guide, Fourth Edition. These

guidelines should provide a complete reference for all formatting questions. For further

examples, students may consult recent journal issues containing articles within the genre

of their research.

In addition, students may consult their directors as well as the DUS for guidance in

presenting the information as effectively as possible. Tables should be clearly and

accurately labeled, and easy to read. The sections of the report should be tightly

integrated and should flow from one to the other. Typos should be eliminated and

proofreading carefully done. These guidelines apply to both quantitative and qualitative

reports.

Because the report will be a senior thesis, here are a few additional rules to be followed

when formatting the official copy to be submitted to the Sociology Department:

1. Margins: The left (binding edge) margin should be 1.5 inches. The top,

bottom and right margins should be 1 inch. This requirement applies to every

page in the document. Keep in mind that the bindery may trim

approximately one-quarter of an inch off each edge. Tables should be

accommodated within these limits.

2. Page numbering: Center each page number horizontally; and, without

including any punctuation, place the number approximately three-quarters of

an inch from the bottom of the page. Paginate, in Arabic numerals, the main

body of the text, beginning with the first chapter or its equivalent (e.g., your

introduction), from page number 1 through the last page, avoiding

supplementary page numbering (e.g., 1a).

3. Tabs should be .5 inches.

4. Line spacing: Double-space between lines; 0 pt before and after each

paragraph. Do not double space after periods.

5. Title page: See an example of the required format in Appendix B and C, one

for honors track students, one for non-honors. (An electronic version is

available through the DUS.) The title of your paper should be 24-point type.

PRESENTING YOUR RESEARCH

The Sociology Department holds a presentation event each year, during the third week of

April. The format is a poster session. All senior thesis students in the Sociology

Department are required to present their research projects at this event. This year’s

Senior Thesis Poster Session will take place on Friday, April 17, 2015, from 2:00-4:00

PM, in the Hospitality Room of South Dining Hall. Students should mark their calendars

well in advance so as to ensure they are prepared for the event.

In addition, students are strongly encouraged to submit an abstract of their thesis

project to at least one sociological association’s annual meeting, held regionally or

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nationally. Check below for the list of associations and conferences that are most

appropriate to this goal. Included below are the dates and locations of these events for the

upcoming year. Deadline dates for submitting abstracts to each can be found online.

National and Regional Conferences

American Sociological Association (visit www.asanet.org)

110th

Annual Meeting – August 22-25, 2015

Hilton Chicago and Hilton Palmer House, Chicago, IL

Theme: Sexualities in the Social World

Eastern Sociological Society (visit www.essnet.org)

Annual Conference – February 26-March 1, 2015

Millennium Broadway Hotel in New York City

Theme: Crossing Borders

Midwest Sociological Society (visit www.themss.org)

Annual Conference March 26-29, 2015

Kansas City Marriott Downtown

North Central Sociological Association (visit www.ncsanet.org)

Pacific Sociological Association (visit www.pacificsoc.org)

86th

Annual Meeting – April 1-4, 2015

Long Beach, CA

Theme: People, Place and Power

Southern Sociological Society (visit www.southernsociologicalsociety.org)

Annual Conference – March 25-28, 2015

Astor Crowne Plaza at 739 Canal Street, New Orleans, LA

Theme: Stalled Revolutions? Gender Inequality in the 21st Century.

Rural Sociological Society (visit www.ruralsociology.org)

Annual Conference – August 6-9, 2015

Madison, WI

Theme: Knowing Rural

University of Notre Dame Undergraduate Scholars Conference

Another forum in which students may present their research is the University of Notre

Dame’s annual undergraduate research conference, i.e., ND Undergraduate Scholars

Conference, held on the Friday immediately following the last day of classes in the

Spring semester.

Visit http://undergradresearch.nd.edu/USC/ for up-to-date information.

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IMPORTANT DUE DATES TO REMEMBER

Full Draft of Senior Thesis: A full, complete draft of your entire thesis should be

submitted to your director for review and feedback by March 27, 2015. This gives you

time to make changes before the Poster Session and before the final due date.

(For students completing their thesis in the fall, the thesis must be submitted by the third

Monday of November.)

Senior Thesis Poster Session in the Department of Sociology: Friday, April 17, 2015,

from 2:00-4:00 PM in Hospitality Room of South Dining Hall.

Final Completed Thesis with Director’s Signature: Due to the Director of

Undergraduate Studies in the Sociology Department on Friday, April 24, 2015, by 5:00

PM.

Dean’s Reception for all A&L Senior Thesis Writers: The dean holds a reception for

all thesis students and their advisors each spring, to celebrate your accomplishments. This

year’s event will be held on April 24, 2015.

PUBLISHING YOUR RESEARCH REPORT

ALL Sociology honors track students are strongly encouraged to submit their theses to at

least one journal for review. Students should consult their thesis directors for advice on a

proper venue.

ORGANIZING YOUR SENIOR THESIS RESEARCH PROJECT

Much of your senior thesis research project is carried out independently. You make your

own schedule. It is important to be consistent and organized in carrying out your project.

Plan on an average of at least ten hours per week, which is usual for a 3 credit course.

Establish a regular work pattern. Get into the habit of writing every day -- and revising

based on feedback from reliable sources.

If you are enrolled in SOC 48009 during the first semester of your project, you

should have the following parts of your project completed by the end of that

semester:

Application for the Senior Thesis Capstone Project (SOC 48009) signed by both

you and your director and submitted to the Director of Undergraduate Studies

(Students may contact the DUS for this form; see Appendix D for sample copy.)

Summary of your research questions

Identification of the source of your data

Summary of your research methodology

List of the research literature to be reviewed

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Data file (or theoretical, historical, or ethnographic contents) organized and ready

for analysis

Completed version of your Review of the Literature, submitted to your thesis

director for feedback.

Solid draft of the Methodology section submitted to director for feedback

Draft of Analysis & Results section submitted to director for feedback

Having this work completed by the end of the first semester of the senior thesis project

provides thesis directors with a solid basis for determining your grade for the semester.

Students in an alternative gateway course (e.g., SOC 48002 or ALHN 48980) are given a

list of milestones and deadlines by their course instructors. If they do not receive one,

students are advised to follow the above plan.

TO-DO LIST AND DEADLINES FOR ENTIRE TWO-SEMESTER PROJECT

The list below includes the major milestones you will reach as you proceed through your

two-semester project. Time lines are included for achieving each milestone, but these are

only suggestions. You and your thesis director should work out each specific due

date for your own project.

1. Senior Thesis Application: Students should submit their research question

and a general description of the project when they apply to enroll in SOC

48009. This is a first step in your senior thesis research project. (See

Appendix A for sample copy of application.)

Date Due: __________________________

2. Research Questions: A two-page summary of your research questions and an

explanation of the relationships you intend to explore should be submitted to

your thesis director during the first couple of weeks of the first semester of

your senior thesis research project. The following are a few questions to be

thinking about as you prepare this statement: What are the questions and

relationships you want to explore? How is your research sociological? What

is the dependent variable, and what are the main independent variables? Who

are the affected groups? What are the competing explanations of the issues/

problems and their consequences? What are the possible methodological

approaches you can employ to answer your questions?

Date Due: ___________________________

3. Identification of Source of Data and Methodology: Students should hand

into their thesis directors a summary of their general research design and the

source of their data, ideally by the end of the first month of the first

semester of their senior thesis project.

Date Due: ______________________________

4. List of the literature to be reviewed and identification of relevant

theories: From the time they first begin to formulate their questions, students

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should be looking into the empirical and theoretical work that has already

been done on their topic. A compiled list of the literature to be reviewed

should be submitted to your thesis director (ideally by the end of the fifth

week of the first semester). Date Due: ______________________________

5. Completed Literature Review: A complete version of the review of the

literature should be submitted to your thesis director by the end of the first

semester in SOC 48009.

Date Due: ______________________________

6. Draft of Methods Section: A comprehensive draft of the methods section of

your report should be submitted to your director by the end of the first

semester of your senior thesis capstone project.

Date Due: ______________________________

7. Draft of Results Section: A good working draft of the results of your

analyses should be submitted to your thesis director by the end of the first

semester of your senior thesis project.

Date Due: ______________________________

8. Final Versions of Methods and Results Section: These sections should be

completed by the beginning of the fifth week of the second semester of your

research project and should be submitted to your director for feedback.

Date Due: _______________________________

9. Final Version of Discussion Section: This section should be completed and

submitted to your director for feedback by the beginning of March or the end

of October, depending on which term is the second semester of your project.

Date Due: _______________________________

10. Abstract: All senior theses must include an abstract, which is a short

paragraph of 150-200 words. It should be concise and well-written. Your

abstract should include the following: a statement of the research question,

short description of the methodology, summary of the highlights of your

results, and the main points of your conclusions and/or recommendations. Do

NOT include formulas, diagrams, figures and references. Your abstract should

be approved by your thesis director. This should be submitted by the second

week of March or the first week of November, depending on which term is the

second semester of your project.

Date Due: ________________________________

11. Complete Full Draft of Thesis: A complete version of your thesis should be

submitted to your director for review and feedback by March 27, 2015.

Students completing their thesis in the Fall semester should submit a full draft

to their advisor by the third Monday of November.) Students may count on

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getting feedback from their directors on this version and then have time to

make the necessary revisions to their work and resubmit their thesis by the

semester.

12. Format check: Students should see the DUS for a format check when they

hand in their full draft to their directors.

13. Complete and Final Thesis: Students must submit their theses to their

respective directors by the Friday of the last full week of April (or the Friday

in the first week of December) -- along with the official title page, signed by

the thesis director. This final, signed version of your thesis should be handed

into the DUS. Another copy of your completed thesis should be handed into

your director for grading purposes.

Date Due: April 24, 2015

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APPENDIX A. FACULTY AGREEMENT TO ADVISE

FACULTY AGREEMENT TO ADVISE

SENIOR THESIS CAPSTONE PROJECT (SOC 48009)

The senior thesis capstone project is the crowning point of the sociology major. All Sociology

Majors are encouraged to participate in this challenging endeavor, yet it is required of only the

students in the honors track. Students may enroll in SOC 48009 twice during their time in the

major. (All honors track students must enroll in the course at least once.) A co requisite for SOC

48009 is the “Senior Thesis Workshop,” SOC 41800. Students should consult the DUS when

working out the arrangements for their senior thesis capstone research project.

FALL ___ SPRING __

AGREEMENT:

I agree to advise in the Senior Thesis Capstone Project

Student Name

during .

Semester and Year

Research question and basic research design:

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

(Attach extra pages as needed)

_________________________ ______________________________ Faculty Name Faculty Signature

Date

_________________________ ______________________________ Student Name Student Signature

Date

Approved: _________________________________ (Director of Undergraduate Studies)

Date

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APPENDIX B. FORMAT FOR SENIOR THESIS TITLE PAGE (Honors Track)

TITLE ALL CAPS

CENTERED

A Senior Thesis

Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of

the Honors Track

in the Undergraduate Program

of the Department of Sociology

by

Student Name

_______________________ Faculty Name, Director

University of Notre Dame

Notre Dame, Indiana

Month, year

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APPENDIX C. FORMAT FOR SENIOR THESIS TITLE PAGE (Non Honors Track)

TITLE ALL CAPS

CENTERED

A Senior Thesis

Submitted to the

Department of Sociology

by

Student Name

_______________________ Faculty Name, Director

University of Notre Dame

Notre Dame, Indiana

Month, year

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APPENDIX D. REVIEW OF HONORS TRACK REQUIREMENTS

I. Courses Required for All Sociology Majors (10 credits):

1. Soc 30900 Foundations of Sociological Theory – take as soon as possible

2. Soc 30902 Methods of Sociological Research – take as soon as possible; requires 30900

3. Soc 30903 Statistics for Sociological Research – take as soon as possible

4. Soc 33090 Sociology Proseminar (1 credit) – take as soon as possible

II. Elective Courses (21 credits):

A. Four courses at any level, 10000 through 40000 (for 3 credits each):

5. Soc Elective #1

6. Soc Elective #2

7. Soc Elective #3

8. Soc Elective #4

B. Three 40000 level courses (3 credits each) - at least two should be research-based:

9. Soc 40/43/48xxx

10. Soc 48xxx (This course should launch you in your senior thesis research project.

11. Soc 48009 Senior Thesis Capstone Project (required for at least one semester).

(N.B. Students must also enroll in co requisite, Soc 41800, Senior Thesis Workshop)

III. One Graduate Level Course for 3 credits.

12. Soc 53xxx

TOTAL NUMBER OF CREDITS FOR HONORS STUDENTS = 34 Last Updated 08/21/2015